Local 4-H clubs show their stuff at State Fair

Minnesota 4-Hers must qualify to exhibit a project at the State Fair by receiving an award of excellence placing during their county fair.
At the county level a 4-H member may show several projects – and earn awards of excellence - but generally only one project can advance to the “big show” – the Minnesota State Fair.

Minnesota 4-Hers must qualify to exhibit a project at the State Fair by receiving an award of excellence placing during their county fair.

At the county level a 4-H member may show several projects – and earn awards of excellence - but generally only one project can advance to the “big show” – the Minnesota State Fair.

Six different colored award ribbons are handed out at the State Fair, each color signifying something different:

-Champion: project is selected top in class;

-Reserve Champion: project is selected second place in class;

-Purple: project meets all of the standards of excellence;

-Blue: project meets most of the standards of quality;

-Red: project meets some of the standards of quality;

-White: project meets few of the standards

-Tri-color: participation.

4-Hers participate in a process called conference judging. Conference judging allows the 4-Her and the judge to “talk” about their project, while the project itself is not evaluated.

The exhibitor talks with the judge about the experiences and knowledge that they have learned as well as what their plan for the future is. Often the conference judging is done in groups of 4 to 6 exhibitors in the same project area; the judging provides a platform for 4-Hers to glean skills in teamwork, presentations, and knowledge of the project.

Minnesota 4-H provides over 15,000 total nights of lodging to young people during the course of the fair. Many bunk in the 4-H Building on Cosgrove Street which is affectionately known as the “4-H Hilton”.

Other sleeping slots include the dorms above the Livestock barns and Bailey Hall on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota.

The 4-H Building is three stories tall. There are 76 steps leading to the top floor of the 40,000 square foot building

The 4-H Building is also the only fully-accessible multi-level building on the State Fairgrounds.

4-H Food Service serves over 29,000 snacks and meals during the course of the State Fair, including 36,000 cartons of milk.

Over 160 performances are given on the 4-H Building stages during the Fair. There was more than 500 volunteer leaders at this year’s State Fair.